Seal hunting is an intrinsic part of our way of life. It provides food,
clothing, cultural and economic sustenance, and commercial interests.

Mary Simon

Beaufort Sea Project Reprints - Birds and Marine Mammals

The Arctic has often been portrayed as barren and the Beaufort Sea as a biological desert.
The Beaufort Sea Project has not found this to be true. The following is a quote from this
summary, “During its contrasting seasons the southeastern Beaufort Sea is home to over two
million migratory birds, some 50,000 seals, 1,500 polar bears, 5,000 whales.” Even more
the interdependence of the people of the Arctic and the wildlife must be considered,
quoting from the summary, “Comparisons of the cash value of wildlife products with money
spent on oil exploration, or with the potential value of oil reserves, have little validity
in making decisions on resource development in this region.”

Since Arctic ecosystems are sensitive because of the nature of the permafrost terrain
and slow rates of growth, reproduction, and decay in the Arctic, disturbance and damage
to such ecosystems caused by development would be slow to recover. As indicated in the
summary, “These factors do not preclude industrial activity in the Beaufort Sea region.
But it is evident that development must proceed with caution; and it must demonstrate a
philosophical respect for the land and its people. This report is not an impact statement.
Its purpose is to present information; not arguments for or against the development of
petroleum or other resources in the western arctic.”

Many papers and reports were used in the preparation of this overview summary report.
The studies have given us much knowledge of birds and mammals in this area of the Arctic
to be able to state, “Enough has been learned to impress upon us that massive, unplanned,
or premature industrial development could have catastrophic environmental consequences.”

As pointed out in this summary, it is certain that development projects will proceed
at some point in time, especially in the Beaufort Sea area, and short-term wildlife
studies of one or two years are not adequate to evaluate complex ecological impacts
of such activity. The following quotes are some study areas where little is now known,
the overwintering range of bowhead and white whales, the size and variability of seal
populations, and the ecological relationships of polar bears, seals and white foxes.